ThesubjectsofthefollowingstudiesaretakenfromthehistoryoftheRenaissance,andtouchwhatIthinkthechiefpointsinthatcomplex,many-sidedmovement
IhaveexplainedinthefirstofthemwhatIunderstandbytheword,givingitamuchwiderscopethanwasintendedbythosewhooriginallyusedittodenotethatrevivalofclassicalantiquityinthefifteenthcenturywhichwasonlyoneofmanyresultsofageneralexcitementandenlighteningofthehumanmind,butofwhichthegreataimandachievementsofwhat,asChristianart,isoftenfalselyopposedtotheRenaissance,wereanotherresult
Thisoutbreakofthehumanspiritmaybetracedfarintothemiddleageitself,withitsmotivesalreadyclearlypronounced,thecareforphysicalbeauty,theworshipofthebody,thebreakingdownofthoselimitswhichthereligioussystemofthemiddleageimposedontheheartandtheimagination
Ihavetakenasanexampleofthismovement,thisearl